20. A Family Horse

A family had a horse which was very well-known in the region. People called it ‘the family horse’. Nobody would mount it. Once a year, the horse would be taken out of the stable for people to see and praise it. Once, someone stole the family horse. The owner of the family horse, who had witnessed the theft, mounted his ‘normal’ horse and chased after the thief. At some point, the owner of the family horse was able to reach the thief and stop him. However, he did not do so, and instead let him go. His sons criticised him, asking why he did not stop the thief. The father reasoned that he let the thief go to save face, since otherwise the reputation around the ‘family horse’ and their family would be ruined.